Synchronized oil level control



Nov. 9, 1937. J. A. ROOK ET AL SYNCHRONIZED OIL LEVEL CONTROL Filed May15, 1934 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE.

tine,

Ohio

Application May 15, 1934, Serial No. 725,814

6 Claims.

This invention relates to oil burners and the object of the invention isto provide a synchronized constant oil level control for such burners.

In oil burners of the stove and range type, wherein oil is fed to theburner from a tank such as inverted metal tank or bottle, difficulty hasalways been experienced in providing an even 'feed to the burners and aconstant oil level in the oil bowl and vaporizing unit and oil channelsof the burners.

In devices for feeding oil to the burners now in present use, there arefluctuations in the level of the oil in the oil bowl and vaporizing unitwhich produce an irregular flame and consequent heating effect. The oilis fed from the tank through a comparatively large opening in the tankcap which is closed by a spring pressed plunger valve. When the tank isplaced in its inverted position on the oil bowl, the plunger engages anabutment which opens the tank valve, the oil flowing out of the openingand the air entering through the same opening. When the opening issealed by the rising of the oil in the oil how], no air can enter thetank and therefore the flow of oil ceases. The oil in the vaporizingunit and oil channels is gradually consumed and the flame dies down asthe oil level sinks. When the opening in the tank is suflicientlyuncovered by this lowering of the oil level in the oil bowl, air canenter the tank so that flow of oil to the bowl and vaporizing unit willbe resumed.

The opening in the tank through which the oil and air pass in thiswellknown construction is relatively large so that the oil will feed veryrapidly when it is uncovered and atmospheric pressure exists in the tankand thus the flame will flare up when air is admitted to the tank tofeed the oil. Tests have shown that, in this type of tank feed, the oilwill feed from 50 to- 150 drops per minute and that there will be anaverage interval of 10%, minutes between regurgitations, resulting in anoil level variation at times of 7/64" of more than .105. It is onlynecessary to observe a burner fed by a device of this well known type tobecome cognizant of the disadvantages of such irregular feeding of theoil, among which may be mentioned the fact that it takes from 10 to 20minutes to saturate the wicks. During operation, the flame flares up anddies down and the heat consequently fluctuates.

Another difiiculty experienced in such burners fed from inverted tanksis that of preventing overflow of the oil when the burner is shut on. Ifthe tank is left in its inverted position and there should be a rise intemperature, the air in the tank will expand and force some of the oilout; upon a lowering of the temperature, the air will contract and moreair will be drawn into the reservoir. It is obvious therefore that asubsequent rise in temperature will force more oil out of the tank andthat these fluctuations of temperature will result in flooding the oilbowl and vaporizing unit with a consequent dangerous overflow. It isalso to be noted that there is danger of oil leakage and accidentaldischarge While placing the tank in position in the oil bowl or removingit for replenishing the oil.

It is the object of our invention to overcome these disadvantages byproviding a constant level feed wherein the oil will be fed only a fewdrops at a time and the time between regurgitations will be only a fewseconds, with oil level variations less than .001, thereby ensuring aneven regular heating flame. The device also comprises a positive meansfor shutting ofi the flow of oil entirely when the burner is turned offthereby preventing overflow, as well as preventing leakage or accidentaldischarge when replenishing oil supply.

We accomplish the above and other objects of the invention, which willbe apparent as the description proceeds, by means of the device shown inthe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional viewof a conventional oil reservoir or bowl for a burner of the range typeshowing an inverted bottle tank provided with our constant level controldevice;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View looking into the interior of the controldevice with the flow shut off in open position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the flow shut oif in operativeposition;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device constituting our invention, thetank neck on which it is positioned being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the device, partly broken away,showing the oil and air feed openings and the flow shut off; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the device constituting our invention.

On the drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like partson all the views thereof, l indicates the conventional form of reservoiror bowl for range oil burners, and 2 indicates the oil supply tank hereshown as of the inverted bottle type. 3 indicates our constant levelcontrol device which is here shown in the form of a casing detachablyconnected to the ipverllfid bottle tank.

vided' with an opening 4 having a sloping peripheral wall'terminating ina knife edge whereby the periphery of the opening on the interior of thecasing is relatively larger than the periph- V cry on the exterior, thesloping wallserving to direct the flow of the oil. The casing is formedwith a thickened circumferential wall 5 having "an extension projectingdownwardly therefrom below the main bottom'wall and forming a con-".tinuation thereof in which is formed a passage 1, which terminates onthe interior, of. the easingin close proximity to the opening 4, asclearly shown in Figs. 2'and 5. The opening4 and the passage 1 arelocated so closely to each other that they are in effect a singleopening for the passage of oil outof the tank when it is first placed ininverted position.

Our improved shut off for the flow of liquid comprisesia valve cap 8 ofsuch size that it will cover both the opening 4 and the passage 1. The

valve capxis provided, with a recess 9 in which is looselyseated'onejterminal of a valvestem l 7 of inverted 'U-shaped formation,the operating .and secured to the extension 6 by any suitable spring forthe valve cap being indicated at H. The other terminalof the stem ismounted in means such as the nut I2 or by riveting or peening. Theloosev mounting of the valve cap en:

sures that the valve'will always positively close the opening andpassage when in itsoperative position; V V

It has been found that this form of valve 7 stem or plunger isparticularly effective for the purpose for which it is designed, sinceit holds the valve'flrmly to its seat'and yet is easily op" 'erabl-e touncover the opening and passage.

A handle Iii isjprovided for operating the valve which is' housed withina cutaway portion 14 so as not to interfere with the seating of the'tank bottle and casingini the conventional type ofres'er'voir or oilbowl. By so locating the handle inthe' cutaway portion, the danger ofaccidentally'operating the valve is eliminated. A recess I is providedin the casing wall for the reception of the valve cap when ininoperativeposition.

A. bathe is secured by soldering or otherwise to the interior-of thecasing and serves to close off 'the interior. and prevent inspectionthereof or removal of the parts therein unless the bafile is removed ordestroyed in which case it would be apparent'that the device hadbeentampered In'operationfthe valve is' first closed andthe tank placedin proper inverted position in the reservoir or bowlf. The valve is thenopened so that the oil flows momentarily through both the opening 4 andthe passage 1 to the bowl or vaporizing unit. As soon as the pressure inthe tank falls below atmosphericgand the level of the oil sinks belowthe bottom of thecasing; air will enterthrough the openingf4and permitthe'flowof oil". When the oil reaches the level of'the bottom of thecasing, or slightly there- 7 above, when, due to the fact that thefiowof air to the top of the tank isishut off, the flow of oil ceases."The burner being lighted, the oil in the bowl will be drawn off and theoil level will sink.

but not over .001";

As will be apparent, the exterior atmospheric pressure bearing againstthis thin film of oil will tend to force it inwardly from the peripheryof the casing toward the opening 4 so' that air may pass into the tank.It' is to be noted that The main bottom wall of the casing 3 isprotheopening 4 is off center so the air pressure will be directed mainly froma point in the film radially toward the center of the casing. When theair pressure reaches a point where it may penetrate the film an airbubble, such as is shown at C, Will detach itself and enter the tankthrough the opening '4. I

As is obvious, the bubble will become enlarged as it passesinto thetank, due to the fact thatl the pressure on the exterior of the bubbleis less than atmospheric in the tank, so that it will be of such sizethat it appears to cover both the opening 4 andthe entrance to thepassage 1 thus cutting off the tendency of the oil to flow through thepassageway I. As the oil discharges a slight vacuum will be formed atthe entrance to the passageway, thus holding the oil inthe passagewayand forming an obstacle to the flow" 'of oil therethrough. Thus, it isapparent, the

ameter is greater thanthe diameter of'the passageway. Another featurewhich entersinto the operation of the device is the fact that the lower,end of the passageway 1 isalways-submergedin'the ,oil in'the bowl whichacts as a cushion or balancer preventing the ready flow of the oiltherethrough. V c

It will thus be seen that we have provided a device in which the oilwillfeed evenly-tothe vaporizing unit, the regurgitations occurring,frequently and depositing only a few drops; at a time. It is likewise;apparent that 'we'have pros 'vided asynchronized constant oil levelcontrol 7 for stoves and ranges of the oilburningtype and for similardevices wherein it is desirable to maintain a constant liquid levelcontrol which is simple in construction'and effective in opera-.

tion.

While we have described our invention in connection with oil burners, itis obvious that it is adapted for use in connection with any liquidfeeding device where it is desired to maintain a constant liquid level,and it is thought unnecessary to enumerate be put.

Having thus described our'invention, what we claim as new and'desire tosecure. by Letters Pat'- ent.is:--'

'1. In a constant liquid level control device, a casing, the botom wallof the casing having two openingstherethrough the entrances to which themany uses to which it may are in the same plane, and ,a valve closurefor said openings, said closure having a U-shaped stem one end of'whichis secured to" the bottom wall of the casingand theother endlooselymounted in said 'closure, said closure and said stem being within thecasing; r

2. In a constant liquid level control device, the V combination of acasing 'havinga bottom ,wall with two closely adjacent openingstherethrOugh a closure for said openings located on the interior of thecasing, and a handle located on the exterior'of'said casing foroperating said closure, said casing having a cut-awayportion in Whichsaid handle is movable. T r V 3. In a constant liquid level controldevice, a casing, an extension projecting downwardly below the bottomwall of said casing, said extension having an opening therethrough, thebottom wall of said casing having two closely adjacent openingstherethrough, one of said openings forming a continuation of the openingin the extension, said first named opening being of the same diameterthroughout and said second named opening having a tapered peripheralwall terminating in a knife edge at the outer surface of the bottomwall.

4. In a constant liquid level control device, a casing having a mainbottom wall provided with two relatively small, closely adjacentopenings therethrough, the entrances to the openings being in the upperplane of the main bottom Wall, a valve closure for said openings, a stemfor said valve closure, said stem being U-shaped, with one end securedto said casing and the other loosely mounted in said closure, and acoiled spring surrounding said stem and bearing against said closure tohold the closure over said openings.

5. In a constant liquid level control device, a

casing having a main bottom wall provided with two closely adjacentopenings therethrough, the entrances tothe two openings being in theplane of the interior surface of said bottom wall, a passageway leadingfrom one of said openings and extending below the main bottom wall ofthe casing, the other of said openings terminating in the exteriorsurface of said bottom wall and having an inwardly flaring conical wall,said entrances being substantially tangent toeach other.

6. In a constant liquid level control device, a casing having a mainbottom wall provided with two relatively small openings therethrough theentrances to which are in the plane of the interior surface of saidbottom wall, the adjacent points of the peripheries of said entrancesbeing separated by a narrow space, a passageway leading from one of saidopenings and extending below the main bottom wall of the casing, theother of said openings having an inwardly flaring conical wall and beinglocated off center of the central vertical axis of the casing.

JAMES A. BOOK. CLAY H. ROOK.

